[Closed] Little Stranger (Taraji Chapter 1)

[LionPrincess]

Almasi looked excited as he asked her what she would like to do "well first i wanna eat" she told him as she rubbed her forepaw over her tummy "and then you could show me around and let me meet the rest of the pride" the little lioness said as she stood up and walked out of the den, she turned back to kopa though as she didnt know were to go for food "Erm, were am i going to eat" she asked as she turned and sat down waiting for a reply

[Lodrill]

Taraji looked to the lioness that was far away now at the entrance of the main den but still in sight. Then her eyes wandered to the still sleeping Kovu. "I will come with you. I also want to drink something." the cub said and rushed under Kiara as if she wanted to hide under her.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina smiled at the question about Almasi. "Oh I think everything went good. Kopa took the guard for the night so that I could rest up... if he is alright... well they are not far from each other in some meanings..." Rahina giggled. She meant it like that Kopa was sometimes like a cub but she did not want to say it this bluntly. "But I am certain he will manage to guard her. At least he will get help if he thinks that it will go out of his hands. But this might be a good training for him, won't it?" Rahina winked to Nala and turned to the way down pride rock. "I am ready queen Nala. I am eager to see what my hunting skills can do out in the savanna." she smiled towards Vitani. "I hope your injury will heal up soon. I can understand how frustrating it can be not to be able to run around." and with a very silent voice she whispered. "That may be my destiny if Kopa find out about my state...."

Rahina waited for the cream colored queen to take the lead and show the way to the southern hunting grounds.

[KiarasMate]

Smiling from Almasi’s enthusiasm to get the day started, feeling his own spirits lifted from her energetic ways despite the lack of sleep he had, Kopa nodded and rose to his paws, beginning to make his way outside of the den as he replied to her in the same gentle tone he had addressed her with previously.

”That sounds like a Goode plan Almasi. From what I know, we should be able to find something to eat at the main den, by the big pointy rock structure they call Pride Rock. Let’s go there now, okay?”

Unsure of whether or not to offer to carry Almasi, as again, Kopa’s parenting skills or lack there of weren”˜t very honed, the confused male started to slowly make his way towards the distant figure of Pride Rock as he spoke to the little feline again.

”Erm, if you don’t want to walk, you can ride on my shoulders if you’d like Almasi. I don’t mind, but if you want to walk, that’s okay too.”

Smiling in a friendly fashion, Kopa kept his pace slow and steady so not to get ahead of the scampering lioness next to him. Kopa hoped that there would be some food at the main den, as he too was a bit hungry himself as well.

==========

Smiling warmly down at Taraji, who seemed to want to take cover under her belly, Kiara giggled as she gently nudged Taraji’s butt with her head, encouraging the little cub to come out from hiding as she stated in a motherly tone.

”There’s no need to be nervous Cutie. Mommy’s here to protect you from anything so don’t worry.”

Kiara slowly started to make her way towards The Private Waterhole, hoping that Taraji’s previous experience there wouldn’t sour her mood of wanting a drink. Figuring that hardly anyone would be up this early anyways, the golden furred princess had no qualms with leading her adopted daughter to the private reserve. Walking at a casual pace, Kiara took note of the way Taraji’s figure was beginning to fill out. Despite the fact that the crystal eyed cub had only been with them for a short while now, the care and loving attention, not to mention the nourishing milk from Nala, had done wonders to improve her situation compared to the day Kovu had found her. Knowing that it was because of her and her loving pride, that Taraji had developed so well, Kiara couldn’t help but feel that familiar sense of pride swelling through her as she walked along with the little cub.

”After we get a drink Cutie, why don’t we wake Daddy up and see what we can do today. Maybe we can all go up to see how Daddy’s sister is doing. I’m sure she’d love to see you again Cutie, what do you say?”

==========

Hearing Rahina’s confirmation that she was ready to depart, Nala turned one last time to Vitani as she gave her fellow lioness a fond farewell.

”Take it easy today Tani and if you’re up for a hunt tomorrow, we can arrange that too. Do me a favor and keep an eye on Mila too if you can. I don’t know what Simba’s plans are for today but if he happens to leave, I’d appreciate it if you made sure she was okay for me. Thanks Tani.”

Turning to Rahina now, Nala started to make her way down into The Grasslands as she beckoned for Rahina to follow. Knowing the paths to take to reach The Southern Hunting Grounds, knowing that it would take a short while for them to arrive there, Nala decided to get a bit more acquainted with Rahina, as far as her past experiences with hunting. Moving at a leisurely pace, Nala spoke in a casual manner to Rahina as they traveled along.

”So, what type of prey are you used to going after Rahina? From what you’ve told me of your past, I have to assume that you’ve been a solo hunter for the majority of your life, unless Kopa helped out in the hunt at all?”

[LionPrincess]

As she followed Kopa, Almasi got an idea, she ran past the lion as fast as she chould,that wasnt that fast because she was pretty small "Race yah" she shouted as she zoomed past hoping that Kopa would join in on the fun.

[SinChei]

Daxis twiched with his right ear and quickly opened up his eyes when he heard another cub shouting. Laini told him from the other cubs but he couldn't find some. Now he got curious and rised on his paws in a few seconds. It was a bit to fast for his circuit and his legs accomodate his body and fell down again. Daxis shook his head and raised again to look for the new cub. At first he wanted to tell Laini
but she still appeared to sleep and ran out. The sun dazzled him and he slowed down was looking for the cub.
The ground was heated up by the sun it was a nice feeling for his paws to walk on this warm ground. He was excited he maybe would see another cub to play with and ran to the source of the sounds and shouted too in hope the other cub would hear him.
"Hello?"

[LionPrincess]

Almasi heared a lion shouting and whent to investigate "hello" she shouted in reply as she looked for the source of the voice, though she turned around every so offten to make sure that Kopa was behind her

[Lodrill]

Taraji nodded to the question of Kiara as a loud screeming startled her so that she jumped up on all four paws and quickly hid behind Kiara. An adolescent lioness was running around near the private water hole and now another voice answered even closer and it came from behind.
Taraji winced again and quickly moved under Kiara again looking around in panic and snuggling against the legs of the still walking Kiara so that she was pretty much in the way and it was hard to walk for Kiara.

Being her shy self and also still not really used to the life within a pride Taraji was terrified by the sudden voices and intimidated. She whimpered in fear of the unknown danger she was awaiting.

[hr][/hr]

Rahina chuckled. "I tried to knock hunting senses into him but at the times we hunted together he was more in the way than a help." she grined. "But he gave his best and he has other qualities."

Rahina's black eyes turned to Nala. "I have been hunting alone. My prey? Well if you only count eatable prey there were warthogs, gazelles, antilopes, Gnus and one time even a herd of buffalos." Rahina laughed at the thought of her hunt on the buffalos. Even it if was no laughing matter due it had been rather risky. But it had filled their stomach for weeks.
"But I hunted down nearly any intruder of our territory too...." Rahina looked around the flat land around. Nearly no tree was here. Only grass and soil.
"I am not sure if I can show all my skills here though. You see we used to live in a jungle and so I am more used to hunt tricky and in a forest." Rahina giggled again. "Well I hunted in this environment on our journey. I had to fill Kopas stomach at least. But it did not went half as well as back home." Rahina looked down on the soil. This really was not her terrain. And while Nala used her claws to move faster and stable Rahina had her claws still retracted. She normally only extracted them to fight or to climb on trees.

[LionPrincess]

Almasi smiled as she spotted a lioness with a little cub, not much younger than her, hiding under her, she ran over to were the cub hid "hi im Almasi, dont be scared i wont bite" she said as she noticed that the cub was shaking, as she waited for a reply she turned again to see Kopa but he was nowere in site.

[Kovu131]

Sarabi was walking by and noticed Almasi. she sat there cleaning her self. "dont tell me you lost Kopa!" Sarabi got up and looked at her.

[KiarasMate]

Hearing Almasi’s challenge and seeing the young lioness darting off in front of him, Kopa smiled as his own playful nature kicked in, calling after her as he quickened his pace.

”Oh, no fair, you had a head start.”

Kopa would have easily been able to overtake the smaller feline but hoping to make her feel special, he kept his strides short as not to pass her, but stayed close enough behind her that he could keep track of where she was going. This worked for the most part however, another voice reached his ears, momentarily distracting him as he looked around for the source of the voice. Unable to see the other lion though, Kopa turned his attention back to where he had last seen Almasi, only to find that she had wandered off. Feeling panic beginning to set in as he had already lost sight of the young lioness, Kopa darted off towards Pride Rock, assuming that she would have went there, as that was the location to which he had spoke to her about previously.

Meanwhile, back near The Private Waterhole, Kiara did her best to make her way along, with Taraji still remaining in between her fore paws. A bit of commotion within The Grasslands startled the little cub as the golden furred princess did everything in her power as not to trip over her daughter, who insisted on finding refuge underneath her. Sighing softly, Kiara paused in mid stride as she spoke downwards towards the frightened cub.

”It’s okay Cutie, it just sounds like some cubs playing. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Upon saying this, Kiara’s eyes met with those of another younger lioness who she hadn’t seen before, sparking her curiosity as she heard her speaking to Taraji in a friendly tone. Taking a moment to give the little lioness a quick glance, noting the diamond like marking which made her stand out, much like Taraji’s marking did, Kiara spoke in a gentle voice as she heard the younger lioness finish speaking.

”Well, hello Almasi. I don’t think we’ve met yet. My name is Kiara.”

Once again, giving Taraji an encouraging nudge, Kiara spoke lovingly to her.

”C’mon Cutie, go ahead and introduce yourself.”

==========

Nala listened closely to what Rahina was telling her, taking in the information as she thought about how best to see just what Rahina was capable of when it came to hunting. Once her fellow lioness had finished speaking, the cream colored queen replied in an understanding voice.

”Oh, I see. Well, the hunting grounds we’re going to right now, doesn’t exactly have much in the way of coverage or ambush points, aside from the tall grass, so I don’t know how well you’re going to be able to adapt to that Rahina but we can give it a shot though. If you’ve had a bit of experience hunting outside of your former home, I’m sure you’ll be okay and I’m here to back you up so we should be fine.”

As the pair of felines continued along their way, Nala casually changed the subject as she flashed Rahina a warm smile.

”So, have you thought of a name for your cub, or cubs as the case may be?”